The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment is the primary body mandated to manage climate change issues, where we have a dedicated department for Sustainable Development and Climate Change within our Environmental Policies and Planning Directorate.

Joint National Committee on Climate Change

Since 2007, the Joint National Committee on Climate Change has been mandated to oversee all climate issues in Bahrain. Today, the Joint National Committee on Climate Change is chaired by the Supreme Council for Environment and includes members from the National Oil and Gas Authority, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Electricity and Water, Ministry of Transportation, Civil Aviation Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Economic Development Board. The committee discusses and takes decisions on all activities, projects, and programs related to climate change in Bahrain, including mitigation and adaptation measures, monitoring and follow up on the latest international developments related to climate change, forming national positions and submissions to international climate agreements, as well as ensuring balance and integration between climate change commitments with the economic and social needs of Bahrain’s sustainable development.

Reporting

Over the years, significant strides have been made to uphold the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national reporting and communication climate change obligations to the United Nations: The publication of these reports resulted in cohesion between national stakeholders across all sectors. In addition, targeted climate change research has been catalyzed through the process of the report synthesis. A key result of the publication of these reports includes the integration of sea-level rise considerations into national development policy, which led to the increase of the permitted height for land reclamation infrastructure activities. In addition, ecosystem protection initiatives are being increased which aid in climate protection, i.e. the transplantation of mangroves on the coast of Bahrain which can be used as means for coastal resilience as well as provide an additional carbon sink. Currently, the SCE is working on the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Third National Communication Report.

The Kingdom of Bahrain became a signatory of the Convention in June 1992 and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in January 2006 with no further commitments. As a member of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Bahrain has special considerations primarily due to the increased vulnerabilities and relatively limited capacities that islands face.

Bahrain is a Party Member to the Paris Agreement. His Highness Shaikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Al Khalifa signed the Paris Agreement for the Kingdom of Bahrain on the 24th of April 2016 in New York. Based on Royal Decree 75/2016 issued by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Kingdom of Bahrain deposited its instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Dec 24, 2016

In the negotiations process, Bahrain is a member of the Group of 77 and China (G77&China) which represent the concerns of 134 developing country Parties and is currently chaired by South Africa. Bahrain is also a member of the Arab Group which represents 22 members of the League of Arab States and is currently chaired by Saudi Arabia. Towards the new agreement, The Kingdom of Bahrain has closely attended all important negotiating sessions in Advancing the Durban Platform (ADP) in 2015, and has represented the Arab Group on Adaptation Climate Finance issues. Currently, Bahrain represents the G77&China on Response Measures.

Climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing, which may be drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing. Climate finance is critical to addressing climate change because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions, notably in sectors that emit large quantities of greenhouse gases. Climate finance is equally important for adaptation, for which significant financial resources will be similarly required to allow countries to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of climate change.

In accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities set out in the Convention, developed country Parties are to provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties in implementing the objectives of the UNFCCC. Decision 1/CP.16 established a Green Climate Fund (GCF) as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism of the Convention under Article 11. The GCF will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country Parties. The Fund is governed by the GCF Board. The Supreme Council for Environment serves as the Kingdom of Bahrain’s the National Designated Authority (NDA) for the Green Climate Fund.